![]() When considering purchasing power, bacon burgers with lettuce and tomatoes today cost 63 cents more than a plain cheeseburger - that’s compared to 27 cents more in 1985. Like beef prices, the costs of meat-based burger toppings such as bacon and eggs have also been increasing faster than the inflation rate. And of course the recession in 2008 didn’t help. dollar increased global demand for American beef, causing American consumers to compete with the rest of the world for the same prime carcasses. Droughts in the early 2000s also raised corn prices, which raised ethanol and cattle feed prices. ![]() "A lot of beef sources around the world have gone through similar liquidation periods," Matthews said. Kenneth Matthews, an agricultural economist with the U.S. This led to many producers selling portions of their livestock, said Dr. In the mid-1990s, a devastating drought caused cattle producers to lose pastures. While the costs for most burger ingredients like lettuce, tomato, and cheese have grown at or lower than the rate of inflation, meat prices have over-inflated, sometimes seven times higher than the overall inflation rate for food.ĭroughts and global competition for American beef are the biggest contributors. The reason: meat prices that won’t stop climbing. When inflation is factored in to bring that to today’s value ($1.10), it’s clear that modern Americans are paying roughly 30 percent more for cheeseburgers than they were 30 years ago. But money in 1985 had more purchasing power than it does today. Eater’s Consumer Plate Index then adjusted the prices to represent single servings and added them up to find the total cost of one burger.Ī homemade cheeseburger with a quarter pound of ground beef, wheat bread, and American cheese (and no other toppings) cost roughly 50 cents in 1985. The kinds of items tracked are limited to what’s on the Consumer Price Index list, which doesn’t include condiments or seasonings, but does include haute burger toppings like bacon and butter. ![]() Its evolution from chopped steak with cheese to a gourmet sandwich with endless meat and topping possibilities is also costing burger-lovers more money.Įater looked at Consumer Price Index data for common burger ingredients in order to track their price changes over 30 years. But inflation and the rising costs of meat are making the dish more expensive to make at home. The hamburger has been an American staple since the early 20th century, so it’s no surprise that the burger consistently ranks as the most grilled food item in the United States. ![]()
0 Comments
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |